Islamabad (AsiaNews / Agencies) - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed deep sorrow during his visit to flood-hit areas of Pakistan. He also asked the international community to hurry in its supply and distribution of aid.
“A heart-wrenching day for me and for my delegation” said Ban Ki-moon. “I will never forget the destruction and sufferings I have witnessed today,… In the past I have visited scenes of many natural disasters around the world, but nothing like this. The scale of this disaster is so large and there are so many people in so many places in so much need.” Ban Ki-moon also made a helicopter flight over four districts of Punjab, the worst affected region, considered the granary of the country, now reduced to a swamp, with crops totally destroyed.
The President Asif Ali Zardari, who attended the press conference with UN Secretary said that about 20 million have been affected by the disaster and will need assistance for at least two years and that the Pakistani army and emergency teams can not reach all those in need.
Official figures speak of at least 1600 dead in the flooding, the worst in Pakistani history. But many areas still have not been reached, which could increase the numbers of victims and displaced persons.
The International Monetary Fund warned that the flood will have long-term consequences for the country's economy, already in need of much help.
The government and the Pakistani president have been strongly criticized for their slowness in responding to the crisis. There is also a well-founded fear that government inertia will give space to Islamic groups linked to extremism, who are more ready to respond to the needs of the population and thus strengthen ties between the people and the Taliban. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has assured that his country will continue the fight against terrorism.
Ban Ki-moon will present a report of his trip to UN General Assembly this week. The international body has already launched a request to member countries for 500 million dollars for Pakistan to address the first three months of the emergency.
